I Am Binge Watching Under The Hammer

@BelleStarr (61101)
United States
February 24, 2018 6:55pm CST
I get so caught up in British shows. This one is about houses that go up for auction and then they meet the people who bought them, usually 3 per show. They find out what they plan to do to the house, and then they check back with them many months later to find out what it actually cost them to do the renovations and are they going to sell the house or rent it. Some of the people actually do decide to live in the house or flat but not many of them. What strikes me about this show is how much less expensive it is to do renovation there than here. They do new kitchens and bathrooms and floors and more and spend less than $20,000. Here, you can't even do a kitchen for that price. I am fascinated by the whole process. I was actually considering buying a flat in Wisbech which is near where my grandmother was born and if hubs hadn't been adamantly opposed I would now have a great home in England. It was in a Georgian building, was freehold and even had a parking spot. It was only one bedroom but the location was ideal. Anyway, I am very into this show and have watched a lot of episodes on Youtube.
8 people like this
10 responses
@LadyDuck (472041)
• Switzerland
25 Feb 18
Do you mean that in the UK is less expensive? I missed something, here you need $20,000 for a basic kitchen. Renovations are very expensive.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
25 Feb 18
Yes, the renovations in the UK are a lot less expensive than in the United States. A lovely kitchen in the United States would be in excess of $40,000. Just a bathroom could go over $10,000.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
25 Feb 18
@LadyDuck no one on this show pays any thing near that so I have to assume you have a large cabinet
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472041)
• Switzerland
25 Feb 18
@BelleStarr We have just renovated one bathroom, the cabinets only costed $ 8,000, we will have another 2,000 for the bath tub, the ceramic tiles on the walls and the natural stone tiles on the floor do not need to be replaced, they are like new.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317242)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
25 Feb 18
It sounds like a very interesting show. I've watched one similar to it, not renovations, but people buying lovely homes in England, with three to choose from. England is beautiful.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
25 Feb 18
Yes that is Escape to the Country and I love that show as well.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317242)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
25 Feb 18
@BelleStarr Yes, that's the name, and started watching it again.
@AmbiePam (93869)
• United States
25 Feb 18
Do you ever watch The Great British Baking Show? I love that show.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (93869)
• United States
25 Feb 18
@BelleStarr I would love to see the Australian version.
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
25 Feb 18
I have watched every episode since the beginning, it is on Youtube as well. And Australia has a baking show too. PBS never showed the first year.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168203)
• Boise, Idaho
25 Feb 18
It is sure cool that you can watch a lot of different shows on YouTube.What a great site.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168203)
• Boise, Idaho
25 Feb 18
@BelleStarr ......I bet. I just have cable and Netflix.
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
25 Feb 18
It is and when I add that to Amazon Prime and Netflix it really broadens the avail shows.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
25 Feb 18
Some of those places cost an arm and a leg to do up. I have seen this programme a couple of times. Some people are lucky whilst others are left penniless with the unknown faults of the house. It is a gamble and for most it pays off but ...... Wisbech is quite rural although Peterborough is not too far away with fast trains to London. The Queen owns Sandringham not too far away and that is isolated too. It is a good commuter route about an hour and a quarter but around $60 return
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
25 Feb 18
Yes I know, we usually drive when we go there but hubs won't drive in England anymore which made Wisbech a bit of an issue. It is quite a nice size town compared to the village my grandmother was born in Newton in the Isle lol
@Courtlynn (67081)
• United States
25 Feb 18
That sounds like a show my mom might watch.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
25 Feb 18
I really enjoy it.
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67081)
• United States
25 Feb 18
@BelleStarr good, im glad you do
@Tampa_girl7 (50528)
• United States
25 Feb 18
That sounds like my kind of show.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
25 Feb 18
It is well worth watching I love it.
@Morleyhunt (21744)
• Canada
25 Feb 18
I'm a hands on renovator....right now my kitchen is undergoing a minor transformation...the budget variety...$100 for paint and new knobs for the cabinets. Eventually a new kitchen but this will freshen and brighten a tired looking kitchen for a couple of years.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
25 Feb 18
Yes that is the kind of renovation I do as well but these are brand new kitchen maybe from IKEA and totally new bathrooms with heated floors and towel holders, it is just not what renovations cost in the US. Last year I bought a new sink and faucet and put new knobs on the vanity in the master bath here and it cost me under $100.
1 person likes this
• Stanton, Kentucky
25 Feb 18
My daughter loves those kind of shows.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
25 Feb 18
I am very addicted even though I am not planning to buy a home at this point but I do like the idea of better priced renovations.
@ms1864 (6885)
• Bangalore, India
25 Feb 18
That's awesome... i actually enjoy watching how people get things done in a small budget...there is always interesting ideas to learn from.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
25 Feb 18
There certainly is and it has made we question the amounts that people spend on US shows like this.
1 person likes this